| From the Wilmington Journal |
| February 19, 1862 |
| |
| Daring Attempt to Destroy a Railroad Bridge |
| We are informed that an
attempt was made on Saturday night to destroy the {Wilmington
&} Weldon Railroad bridge, by some
persons as yet unknown. The structure is a large wooden one, guarded
by two sentinels. The traitors who attempted its destruction gained
access to the bridge by climbing up from a small island, upon which
rests one of the main piers. The guard discovered the operations of
the party as soon as they had commenced to cut away the principal
beams. They fired upon the assailant, and followed up the volley so
quickly with another, that they were glad to leave their implements
behind and make good their escape. |
| The cars were detained some
fifteen minutes at the bridge, in order to ascertain whether it was
safe to cross or not. Careful investigation, however, revealed the
fact that the bridge was not materially injured, and quite as strong
as ever. -- Rich. Dispatch, 18th inst. |
| |
| We copy the above dispatch for
the purpose of stating that our contemporary of the Dispatch is wholly
misinformed. We have just seen Captain John L. Cantwell, commander of
the Railroad Guards, who is just from Weldon, and he informs us that
no such attempt was made -- that instead of these being only two
sentinels, the bridge was and is so effectually guarded as to render
the occurrence of any such circumstances as are above related
altogether impossible. |
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